Mark Giannantonio is the new president and CEO of Resorts Atlantic City.
Mark Giannantonio
Thirty years ago, Mark Giannantonio was a motivated 18-year-old kid looking to put himself through college working the night shift as a room service waiter at Atlantic City’s first casino.
Today, the kid who once schlepped midnight snacks to Julio Iglesias’ suite will be the one who signs the singer’s next paycheck.
Earlier this week, Giannantonio added an exclamation point to his career when he became president and chief executive officer of Resorts Casino Hotel. It was a pretty quick trip to the top; Giannantonio had been hired several months earlier as Resorts’ vice president of operations.
“This place is a very special property to me, having started my career here,” Giannantonio said. “When I worked here in 1982, Atlantic City was just humming. The property was just so vibrant [and] you never knew which stars you were going to run into in the hallways. ... Those days were so very impactful to my career.”
Giannantonio, 49, just might have the ultimate local-boy-makes-good story.
It wasn’t long into his first casino job that Giannantonio realized he wanted a career in the industry.
“I worked 40 hours a week while I was going through college,” he said. “The reality of it is that I immediately knew that I liked the industry. I used to work nights, so in the morning I’d be sitting in an economic class and the previous night I’d be taking care of Julio Iglesias or some of the big stars or some of the biggest gamblers of the time. I loved the fact that it was a people business and service was important.”
“I think Jimmy and Morris were brilliant in their forethought because, clearly, the first thing that comes to mind when you visit the Jersey shore is the beach and ocean."
Partially owned and run by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority since August 2012, Resorts, on Jan. 10, opened two new players’ club lounges — the Epic Lounge and Paramount Lounge — that combine the elegant feel of a club Boardwalk Empire’s Nucky Thompson would appreciate but with the modern touches — like flat-screen TVs — that current casino patrons will enjoy.
Harrah's Atlantic City had four body-painted models handing out room keys to workers in Center City Philadelphia this past rainy Tuesday at the corners of 15th and Market streets. Harrah'...
Last weekend's Atlantique City event at the A.C. Convention Center. Singer-songwriter Cailin Callahan's CD release party at The Trinity at The Pier Shops at Caesars last Friday...
Asking me to name my favorite Atlantic City casino is like asking me to name the best show I’ve ever seen. It can’t be done. Just as every great show has that one certain something that gives it its individuality, each of the city’s 11 casino hotels has a personality that makes it stand on its own, at least for me. For reasons that are as professional as they are sometimes personal, I’ve always maintained that each casino has one quality that sets it apart from the others. Yet none have — and probably never will — achieved “favored” status with me. It’s like me asking you to name your favorite kid. But there is one property that will forever have a very special place in my heart, and...
“I believe in [Resorts]. It heralded the beginning of casino gaming in the East and has always had a special place in my heart. It is an exciting place with a lot of history and we are going to bring it back to life with even more energy and vitality than it possessed at its creation in 1978."
History is piled upon history when it comes to that significant moment when Resorts opened its door in 1978 as the first casino in Atlantic City. Resorts was able to jumpstart the casino era locally ...
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1. marty said... on Jan 10, 2013 at 11:45AM
“good article, lotsa personal insight”
2. Anonymous said... on Jan 10, 2013 at 12:16PM
“went into resorts a few weekends ago, and the place is humming with new seemingly great changes, i.e., jimmy buffett margaritaville coming on both sides of the boardwalk and other eateries.”
3. Shorebird said... on Jan 10, 2013 at 01:46PM
“mark seems like a good man and should do the right thing by cleaning up the mess the management did to stephen andrady, a.k.a. cher, after dennis gomes died. stephen was creator and producer of the divas show and they kicked him out to steal the show from him. he was the heart and soul of that show and everyone loved him. stephen is one of the kindest most talented and generous men i have ever met and so many customers like myself will never step foot into resorts until stephen has his show back.”
4. Linda LaRocca Cerminara said... on Jan 16, 2013 at 02:51PM
“So happy to know that a hometown nice guy made it to where he could still be a hometown boss!”
5. Andrew Jupina said... on Jan 22, 2013 at 09:32AM
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6. Andrew Jupina said... on Jan 22, 2013 at 09:49AM
“Resorts is buzzing with anticipation and excitement about Margaritaville. When the renovations are complete, it will be THE PLACE to go in Atlantic City. I'm proud to be part of it. Congratulations Mark Giannantonio!”